Breeders’ Cup 2016: Songbird and Lancaster Bomber among tips for Friday’s action
Published:
Songbird to call the tune in Distaff
Songbird looks a worthy favourite to land a stellar renewal of the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Santa Anita (23.35).
Jerry Hollendorfer’s three-year-old is unbeaten in 11 starts and was simply sensational when landing the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Keeneland 12 months ago.
She broke smartly from the outside post in the 10-horse field to make all in the hands of Mike Smith and slam her rivals by 5 3/4 lengths.
In doing so Songbird clocked a winning time that was a full second faster than that recorded by Nyquist in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile later on the card.
Course form a big plus
The daughter of Medaglia d´Oro is also a five-time winner over course and distance and comes into the contest having won three Grade 1 contests by a total of 18 lengths.
Songbird now takes on older fillies and mares for the first time in her career and, with the likes of 2013 winner Beholder and last year’s three-year-old filly champion Stellar Wind in opposition, undoubtedly faces her toughest task to date.
However, she is is a class act and can make all to come through the test with flying colours and confirm herself a true superstar.
Lancaster Bomber fancied to blitz Juvenile Turf rivals
Trainer Aidan O’Brien has a terrific record in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, and Lancaster Bomber looks cracking value to further enhance it with victory in this year’s renewal of the 1m contest (21.25).
The Ballydoyle handler has saddled the winner in three of the last five runnings and, in Lancaster Bomber, has a colt who produced a career-best effort last time out when chasing home stable companion Churchill in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket.
After racing at the head of affairs, the son of War Front stuck to the task well when headed just inside the final furlong and rallied to be beaten 1 1/4 lengths.
Although he faltered to finish so close to the idling winner, the form of the race looks strong as as the fourth and fifth home, Thunder Snow and Rivet, have subsequently gone on to Group 1 glory.
Dortmund to deliver in Dirt Mile
Dortmund has some top class form to his name and rates a solid bet in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (22.05).
The Bob Baffert trained four-year-old has won eight of his 13 starts and also run well to make the frame on four occasions.
They include when a fine third of 18 to Triple Crown hero American Pharoah in last year’s Kentucky Derby and an excellent 2 1/4 length runner-up to the superstar that is California Chrome, in a Grade 1 at this venue last month.
Those runs set a clear standard in this line-up and another plus is that Dortmund is a five-time winner at the track.
With no California Chrome to contend with on this occasion, it looks a glorious opportunity for the colt to get back to winning ways.
Intricately the answer to Juvenile Fillies Turf
Intricately has a progressive profile and can provide rookie trainer Joseph O’Brien with a dream success in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (22.50).
The filly is the young handler’s first ever runner at the meeting and comes into the contest on the back of a career-best performance when landing the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh.
After racing up with the pace throughout, Intricately showed tremendous battling qualities when challenged inside the final furlong to pull-out more and beat Hydrangea by a short-head.
That was just the fourth start for the daughter of Fastnet Rock and she looks the type that could have even more to offer.
The attitude that Intricately showed suggests she won’t shirk the issue if it comes down to a battle and there is no reason why she should not confirm the form with the re-opposing Hydrangea.
Breeders’ Cup Friday Tips
21.25: Lancaster Bomber
22.05: Dortmund (NB)
22.50: Intricately
22.35: Songbird (NAP)
Related
